Gas generating and feeding mechanism for gas-engines



PATENTED JAN. 5, .1904.

0. K. MAGFADDEN.

GAS GENERATING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS ENGINES APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WM K r. W fl UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT Fries.

CARL K. MACFADDEN, OF GENEVA, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 748,763, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed March 12, 1903. $erial1l'o. 147,409. (No model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL K. MACFADDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goneva, in the county of Adams and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Generating and Feeding Mechanisms for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of mechanisms adapted to be used in connection with gasengines so as to automatically furnish a supply of gas, either natural or generated from liquid hydrocarbons, to a gas-engine as may be desirable or necessary, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient gas generating and feeding mechanism for a gas-engine.

Further objects of theinvention will appear from an examination of the drawings and the following description and claims.

The invention consists principally in a gas generating and feeding mechanism for gas engines in which. there are combined a collapsible and extensible reservoir, a supplypipe connected with a source of gas-supply, a heating-chamber connected with a source of liquid hydrocarbon and with the reservoir, means for heating such chambenand valve mechanism in the gas-supply and liquid-hydrocarbon supply adapted to be operated by the movements of the collapsible and extensible reservoir.

The invention consists, further and finally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improvements as they appear when embodied in one form; Fig.

2, an enlarged sectional elevation of the gas and liquid-hydrocarbon supply valves as they appear when the storage-tank is filled-71. 6., in their closed position; Fig. 3, a similar view of the valves as they appear when the gas-storage tank or reservoir is half fullvl. e.

with the gas-supply valve open and the liqnid-hydrocarbon-supply valve still closed, but on the verge of being opened; and Fig. 4, a

' similar view of the same valves as they appear when the storage tank or reservoir is empty-z'. e., with both valves open.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that gas-engines where they are used for translating mechanisms in oil districts are adapted to be used either with a supply of natural gas or with a gas generated by and from liquid hydrocarbons. The gas is first fed into a tank or reservoir and from such reservoir is fed and supplied to the gasengine. At times the supply of natural gas fails, particularly during the first operations of the oil well or wells of the neighborhood, and as a consequence gas has to be supplied or generated from the liquid hydrocarbons. This invention therefore is intended to sup ply mechanisms by which the use of both natural gas and gas generated by and from liquid hydrocarbons may be simply and automatically eifected, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

In constructinga mechanism in accordance with these improvements a collapsible and extensible gas-storage reservoir is provided formed of two portions-a fixed or immovable portion a and a movable cap portion 1;, telescopically fitting the same, both parts being sealed by means of a liquid sealing-chamber c. This collapsible and extensible reservoir is provided with aservice-pipe d, which leads to a gas or similar engine, (not shown,) all of which is old and well known to those skilled in the art. The storage tank or reservoir is further provided with a single supply-pipe 6, having two branchesone branch, f, which leads to and is connected with a source of natural-gas supply, the other branch, g, leading to and. connected with a source of liquidhydrocarbon supply. In order to transform or gasify the liquid hydrocarbons, a heating tank or chamber his provided and interposed in such liquid hydrocarbon supply pipe. Through this heating-tank an exhaust pipe'i is provided which leads from the gas-engine, so that when such gas-engine is in operation and after a certain length of time sufficient heat is generated within the chamber to gasify any reasonable amount of liquid hydrocarburners jis provided and arranged underneath the heating-tank, so that during their use sufficient heat may be generated to gasify the liquid hydrocarbons. To feed the gaseous materials into the storage tank or reservoir and cut off or control the same, as desired, both of the branch pipes are provided with valves is and Z, as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. When the reservoir is full of gas, the valves are in the position shown in Fig. 2, with their actuating-levers m and 'n at their downward limit of motion, so as to close the passages therethrough and prevent any gas from passing into the storage-reservoir In order to operate these valve mechanisms by and during the movement of the movable portion of the storage-reservoir, an operating-leverp is provided and pivoted at The inner end of this operating-lever is provided with a weighted roll 6, which rests against the cap portion of the reservoir, its outer end having two connecting-rods s and 2, which are also pivotally connected with the valve-levers m and n. As above stated,when the gas-storage reservoir is full the valves are closed. As gas is used, however, or drawn from the reservoir for any cause the cap of the reservoir collapses from the position shown in dotted outline to that shown in full lines in Fig. 1. At the same time the weighted roll moves with the reservoir and raises the valve-levers to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which opens the gas-supply valve and brings the other valve to the verge of opening, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. If from any cause the gas in the reservoir still diminishes and the reservoir further collapses, the continued movement of the parts brings the valves to the position shown in Fig. 4, so

that both valves are opened and a supply of liquid hydrocarbon passes into the heatingtank to be gasified therein and finally passes out and through the supply-pipe into the storage-reservoir. It will be seen, however, that the gas-supply valve is open at all times excepting when the gas-supply tank is distended to its extreme limit, at which time it is closed, as well as the liquid-hydrocarbonsupply valve. As the gas is used, however, and immediately after the reservoir begins to collapse the valve is is opened and continues open as long as the gas is used. It will be seen, further, that the valve in the liquid-hydrocarbon-supply pipe is only open during an emergency-that is,when the reservoir is less than one-half full. It will be understood, however, that these valves may be arranged to suit any conditions existing in the neighborhood in which the engineis used and that such variations may be had without departing from the spirit of the invention herein disclosed.

I claim- 1. In mechanisms of the class described,the

combination of a collapsible and extensible reservoir, a supply-pipe connected with a source of gas-supply, a heating-chamber connected with a source of liquid hydrocarbon and with the reservoir, means for heating such chamber, and valve mechanism in the gas-supply and liquid-hydrocarbon supply operable by and during the movements of the collapsible and extensible reservoir, substantially as described.

2. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a collapsible and extensible gas-storage reservoir, a supply-pipe therefor connected with a source of gas-supply and a source of liquid-hydrocarbon supply, a heating-cha'mber inserted in the pipe connected with the source of liquid-hydrocarbon supply, valve mechanisms in the gas and liquidhydrocarbon supply pipes, a lever connected with the extensible and collapsible reservoir and with the valve mechanisms,whereby such valve mechanisms are operated by and during the movements of the collapsible and extensible reservoir, substantially as described.

3. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a gas-storage reservoir form ed of two partsan immovable and a movable part telescopically fitting the same and provided with a liquid seal, a supply-pipe connected therewith and with a source of gassupply and liquid-hydrocarbon supply,a heating-chamber inserted in the liquid-hydrocarbon-supply pipe, means for heating the same so as to gasify the liquid hydrocarbons, valve mechanism inserted in the gas and liquidhydrocarbou supply pipes, a lever connected with the movable part of the gas-reservoir and with the valve mechanism, whereby the same are opened as the reservoir is collapsed and closed as it is extended, substantially as described.

4:. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a telescopic extensible and collapsible gas-storage reservoir, an exhaustpipe leading therefrom to a gas or similar engine, a single supply-pipe therefrom having two branches, one leading to and connected with a source of gas-supply and the other leading to and connected with a source of liquidhydrocarbon supply, a heating-tank inserted in the liquidhydrocarbon-supply branch pipe, an exhaust-pipe from the gas or steam engine leading through the heatingtank, valve mechanisms in the gas-supply and liquid-hydrocarbon-supply pipes, and means connecting such valve mechanisms with the movable part of the gas-reservoir, whereby they are opened as such reservoir is collapsed and closed as such reservoir is extended, substantially as described.

CARL K. MACFADDEN.

Witnesses:

HAL W. GREER, E. L. NALL. 

